Sarasota deputies shoot, kill Bradenton man after traffic stop

A Bradenton man was shot and killed Monday night by Sarasota County sheriff’s deputies when he drove his vehicle toward one of the deputies during a traffic stop, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rodney Mitchell, 23, was driving a white Jeep Liberty near Washington Court and 29th Street in north Sarasota when deputy Adam Shaw stopped the vehicle about 9:33 p.m. for a traffic violation, a news release stated. Sgt. Troy Sasse arrived as backup.

Shaw approached the driver’s side door from the rear of the vehicle as Sasse walked from the front driver’s side.

Shaw told the driver to put the car in park. However, the release states that Mitchell immediately replied, “No,” before putting the vehicle in drive and accelerating toward Sasse.

Afraid the car would strike Sasse, both Shaw and Sasse fired their duty weapons twice in the direction of the vehicle, the release stated.

The vehicle traveled south on Washington Boulevard, when Mitchell, according to the release, is believed to have died from injuries sustained in the shooting. The Jeep left the roadway before striking several cars in a parking lot and hitting a cement barrier.

The passenger fled the scene on foot and has not been located, the release stated.

Mitchell, has a history of traffic infractions, with the most recent being filed in 2009, according to Manatee County clerk records.

He lived on the 4900 block of 26th Street East, Bradenton.

According to the Sarasota County’s Sheriff’s general order for levels of resistance, deputies are only justified to use deadly force in the case of and “overwhelming need to cause that person to immediately cease what he/she is doing.”

Deadly force is unauthorized with misdemeanants or traffic offenders, unless “the situation escalates to the level that deadly force is justified,” the order states.

Shaw, 23, who was hired in January 2010, and Sasse, 33, who was hired in October 2003, are on paid administrative leave while the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.

The medical examiner was conducting an autopsy Tuesday, authorities said.

This story was originally published June 12, 2012 at 5:52 AM with the headline "Sarasota deputies shoot, kill Bradenton man after traffic stop."